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Protesters Arrested For Blocking Traffic In Downtown Grand Rapids

By Emanuel Martinez By Dominick Mastrangelo for Michigan Live – Following several warnings, police say, a 64-year-old male, a 40-year-old male and a 49-year-old female were all arrested on charges of Impeding Traffic and Resisting and Obstructing. The group was demonstrating on behalf of an organization called “Movimiento Cosecha GR” which seeks undisputed protection for immigrants in the city. They staged a march from Calder Plaza to the nearby federal building at the intersection of Michigan and Ottawa. “They knew this was a possibility,” said Cynthia Quintana, who spoke on behalf of the group. “(Those who got arrested) are our allies. These actions need to happen so that we can get attention from people.” Immigration has been a hot topic not just nationwide, but specifically in West Michigan. Last month, 600 people participated in a Day Without Immigrants demonstration in Grand Rapids. About 40 people participated in the protest that at one point blocked traffic attempting to merge onto Ottawa Avenue from 1-196. “We were trying to send a message,” Quintana said. “We’re trying to say that we are happy people. We are peaceful people.”